Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

She immediately replied, "Your Highness, you must have misheard me," but her body trembled slightly uncontrollably, her heart suddenly raced, and her ears burned, as if an electric current was flowing between them.

Dancing with His Highness the Prince was indeed a completely different experience from practicing with Sandoni.

Moreover, it was only afterwards that they learned that the female chieftain of the sea monster tribe had volunteered to be their dance partner during the day, which was a scheme devised by His Highness the Prince, who considered that she might not agree to attend the banquet because she disliked lively atmospheres.

She was tricked by His Highness the Prince, and then came out of spite.

But what does it matter?

She once thought that after dying alone in this life, she would sit atop the highest mountain in the Winter Kingdom, turning into an ice sculpture, bathed in starlight and moonlight, buried by relentless wind and snow, her body only decaying many years later. Only when people could no longer hear the ancient songs would they realize that the singer was no longer alive.

However, at the party that night, she experienced for the first time the feeling of being connected to the world. She was so engrossed in the Prince's dance steps that she almost forgot about herself, who always sat alone on the snow-capped mountain.

Under the dim streetlights in the town, people danced gracefully, the roaring bonfire warmed their hearts, and a bright moon hung in the rare clear night sky. The audience around her applauded enthusiastically for her and His Highness's wonderful dance. She knew that His Highness was trying to melt the ice in her heart.

She recalled the ancient legend of her tribe.

"It is said that once a girl of the Fairy Spirit Clan meets her true love, the man will be able to have a strange connection with her spiritual world. When they get close to each other, the man can always hear the ethereal songs of the Fairy Spirit Clan. It is a magical phenomenon that even the gods cannot explain, and the Fairy Spirit Clan romantically describes it as an arrangement of fate."

The old women in the tribe often say that many women in the Fairy Spirit Clan will live out their lives alone and never meet such a man. If they do meet one, they must cherish him.

……

The banquet was a great success. Not only the guests present, but also tourists from all over the world who came to express their gratitude donated generously. In just one ball, they raised over 100 million Mora.

The recent charity ball in Winterfell invited many nobles and ministers, and even invited Puccinella the Rooster to attend. The guests included business elites and major slave owners, but in the end, only 80 million Mora were raised.

After the banquet ended, the elderly couple who organized the charity ball came with a young man. He knelt directly at her feet, tears in his eyes, and said that this was to thank the Executive Officer for the reforms. Otherwise, he would never have been able to reunite with his parents in his life. He also said that there were many slaves like him who were trafficked to mines and farms from childhood, and their fates were changed as a result.

She glanced at the prince beside her and said, "The person we should thank is the prince. Without him, the reforms could not have succeeded."

The young man cried out, "My lord, I have thanked His Highness the Prince countless times in my heart. But... can he hear me?"

Instead of answering directly, she asked the prince beside her, "Is it possible?"

His Highness laughed heartily, “Young man, thank yourself for never giving up hope in the mines. Thank your parents for their tireless search over the decades. Thank the sheriff for remembering this missing person case after twenty years. But don’t thank the heavens, and don’t thank fate. The heavens of Teyvat are not worthy of our faith, and fate is nothing more than a script pre-written by the dark hand behind the scenes.”

None of the people present recognized His Highness the Prince. However, he had bravely invited the Executor to dance today, and judging from the current situation, the Executor seemed quite pleased. Therefore, everyone had a good impression of him. However, after hearing these seemingly arrogant words, many people's gazes towards him changed.

A person who does not respect God or fate will be abandoned by God and fate, and all previous goodwill will vanish instantly.

Someone jumped out and retorted, "So, in order to get the Executor's attention, he uttered some outrageous and shocking remarks? The funniest thing is that when others wanted to thank His Highness the Prince, he said they should thank themselves instead, ignoring the Prince's contributions. Executor, you'd better stay away from this kind of fame-seeking person."

She feigned an air of authority and gave a curt "hmm." Inwardly, however, she chuckled to herself. Would these people still be so sharp-tongued if they knew the person standing before them was His Highness the Prince?

On the way back to the camp, the two tacitly chose to walk, while His Highness the Prince arranged for Sandone to take the guards back in a carriage first. As they were leaving, Sandone said with a mischievous grin, "You two, don't do anything naughty," and a blush crept onto her face as she "shooed" Sandone away.

The moon was bright and the stars were few; the two walked side by side on the snow track marked with hoofprints and tire tracks.

With her hands behind her back and light steps, she pulled up the brim of her hat, adorned with tassels, and asked, "They can't understand what you're saying. They're at a different level, so it's hard for them to comprehend."

His Highness replied, “Ultimately, it’s because you haven’t publicly announced your rebellion against the laws of nature. The people of Zhidong have been kept in the dark, always believing that Her Majesty the Empress’s ambition is merely to annex the other six kingdoms. When we proceed with the next phase of reforms, I will have the Empress proclaim to the world that Zhidong’s fundamental national policy is to overthrow the laws of nature and rebuild world order.”

She worriedly said, "This is tantamount to telling everyone that we are going to 'rebel'."

His Highness scooped up a handful of snowflakes, rolled them into a snowball, and threw it far before it landed. He chuckled and said, "That's right, we want to tell the whole world that we're rebelling! After the destruction of Kanria, the Seven Gods and Sky Island have been at odds, and for the past five hundred years, they haven't had any contact. Apart from the Ice Queen, the other six earthly rulers probably have ulterior motives. Even if they don't dare to openly help us, they'll at least maintain a neutral stance. Let's take the lead and break through this barrier!"

"Moreover, do you think the other six gods don't know even if the Ice Queen doesn't say so? Barbatos, Ray Movie, Morax, Little Lucky Grass King, the Water God and the Fire God, they are all old foxes who have been through life-and-death battles, and they have been keeping a wait-and-see attitude, hoping to reap the benefits."

"There's a law about longevity: the longer a person lives, the more afraid they are of death, and the more cautious they become. These six guys have all lived for hundreds or thousands of years, or they're living fossils who have inherited memories of their past lives. Tell me, if I destroy their escape route and force them into a corner, do you think they'll rebel with us?"

She asked, "Since you say they're old foxes, why should we listen to you?"

His Highness the Prince roared, "They have to listen to what I say. Anyone who doesn't, I'll beat them up! Tianli wants my life, so do you expect me to just swallow my anger and not dare to utter a sound? As long as I live, Tianli will never have an easy time!"

In that instant, a strong killing intent surged between the prince's brows and eyes, completely different from his usual scholarly demeanor, making him look like a great general about to step onto the battlefield.

She gained a deeper understanding of the man before her; he would repay kindness and avenge wrongs.

With His Highness's strength, even if he went to Liyue or Inazuma, he could become a powerful ruler, using the strength of other nations to fight back against the laws of nature. His decision to stay in Winterfell, a country with a less-than-stellar reputation, was clearly due to the Empress's selfless rescue and unconditional trust. He agreed to help with reforms in return; otherwise, how could the frigid Winterfell retain a "Descendant"?

The guardian of justice cast a death curse, but His Highness did not beg for mercy, nor did he yield, nor did he choose to live a life of dishonor. Instead, his resolve to avenge himself against justice only strengthened, and he was determined to overcome any hardship or obstacle. His conviction was so unwavering that he withstood the curse's repeated flare-ups purely through willpower.

This man was both gentle and refined, yet also impetuous and passionate. He was simple yet complex, and the most unique man she had ever met.

After a brief moment of surprise, she covered her mouth and giggled, "That's unreasonable."

His Highness regained his composure and asked, "Then would you be willing to have such an unreasonable man sit with you forever atop the snow-capped mountain, watching the sunrise over the new world?"

She looked flustered, not daring to meet his burning gaze, and quickly walked away from the prince.

After spending two or three months together, my feelings for His Highness the Prince have changed. At first, I thought he was arrogant and conceited. Then I thought that the Kingdom of Zhidong could not do without this man. Now, I am deeply moved. It is hard to answer with a simple "yes or no".

To say she was unwilling would be against her will, yet to say she was willing now was incredibly difficult. She had her own pride; for the first half of her life, she had been determined to live a solitary life, to let the ancient songs resound once more across Sky Island, and even if she died halfway through her conquest of the heavens, she would have no regrets. To suddenly meet a man and change her mind—wouldn't that prove all her previous convictions meaningless?

Moreover, the curse concerning the Celestial Race has been troubling her ever since.

The Celestials were a great race that guided humanity long ago, but if they fall in love with a human, they will lose all their power and become small, floating spirits without wisdom, memory, or soul. Long ago, the Celestials' ancestor was banished from the throne in the heavens to the mortal realm. Rumors circulated within the race that their ancestor fell in love with a human who had crossed the stars—one of the earliest "Descendants" on the continent of Teyvat.

Although tens of thousands of years have passed, proving that the Celestials can marry humans and that intermarriage has occurred within their race, their husbands have all been ordinary humans, not "Descendants." Her Highness, however, is a genuine Descendant. She fears the curse will come true, and her concern stems from the possibility that Teyvat may be a cyclical world, thus potentially leading her down the same path her ancestors trod…

His Highness caught up with me and said apologetically, "I know it's abrupt to ask this, but I'll give you time to think it over. By the way, don't keep me waiting too long. There are countless beautiful girls in this world; who knows, one day someone might kidnap me."

She stopped, put her hands on her hips, and said, "Let's see who dares," but then regretted it, realizing she shouldn't have made such a hasty statement. Finally, she sighed softly and changed the subject, "At the dance earlier, you were only a few years older than the old couple's son, yet you called him 'young man.'"

His Highness asked, "Is there something wrong?"

She replied, "It sounds very old-fashioned, like an elderly person instructing a younger person."

His Highness smiled and said, "People always get old. It's good for you to see what I'll look like when I'm old, so you won't despise me when I'm really old. Columbia, don't move."

"Hmm?" She stood obediently in place.

His Highness the Prince stepped forward and helped her re-tie the long pink velvet scarf around her neck, then adjusted the brim of her hat. "Your scarf is loose..."

The cold wind around us suddenly stopped, and apart from the howling wind in the distant valley, the whole world was silent. All we could hear was the soft sound of snowflakes falling and the warm breaths exhaled by those close at hand.

His Highness said gently, "Columbia, you look beautiful today..."

At that moment, she suddenly realized that the prince, who had remained calm even when facing the assassination attempt by the undead knight, sounded a little nervous.

So she became extremely nervous and didn't know what to do.

As they drew closer, and she was about to fall into the prince's broad embrace, she called out to the side, "Sandonie, do you like the prince?" The next second, taking advantage of the prince's momentary daze, she lifted her skirt and ran away.

His Highness smiled helplessly.

After that, the two remained silent the rest of the way.

But they all walked very slowly, wanting to make this not-too-long journey home as long as possible.

Chapter 192 Me

When the two returned to the camp, Sandone, who was roasting a few more sweet potatoes by the stove, heard footsteps outside the tent and rushed out, laughing, "Heh heh heh, something's definitely up, taking so long to come back. Your Highness, did you 'bully' her? Why is Sandone's face so red? But I don't care about your business. Now that I'm full, I'm going to do some research."

After saying that, he held a few fragrant roasted sweet potatoes, sat on the palm of the self-regulatory agency, and crawled into the temporary tin shack with a sign that read "Storage Room".

But it wasn't actually a storage room; it was a laboratory.

Her Majesty the Queen appointed Sandone as the Prince's personal bodyguard. At first, she was very diligent and stayed by his side 24 hours a day. However, since the Prince faked his death two or three months ago and announced to the outside world that he had been assassinated, her mission ended prematurely, at least to the outside world.

With His Highness the Prince dead, the enemy lost their target for assassination. Sandone's "bodyguard" work came to an end, and she was no longer interested in reform matters. Every day, listening to her and His Highness talk about reforms in various places, she would either scratch her head or doze off, in short, she was extremely bored.

Seeing this, His Highness the Prince had this temporary laboratory built, but he couldn't openly call it a laboratory, otherwise Sandone would be considered to be neglecting his duties while on official business. The chief administrator Piero was very sharp-eyed, and any administrator who didn't work diligently would be punished, so he put up a sign that read "Storage Room".

On the day the laboratory moved in, His Highness the Prince personally took Sandone to visit it. Although it was small, it was fully equipped with a wide variety of instruments and equipment. If it weren't for her feelings, she would have given His Highness a hug on the spot as a token of her gratitude.

When His Highness returned to the camp, he was in disguise, and no one in the camp could recognize him. Only the captain of the guard who was on duty in front of the tent, who knew the inside story, saluted respectfully.

Upon entering the tent, His Highness asked, "What are those people outside the camp doing?"

Just now, she and Columbia were at the camp entrance when they noticed a large crowd gathering nearby.

Seeing His Highness brushing the snowflakes off her clothes in a very intimate and ambiguous manner, the captain of the guard pretended not to see anything and reported, "After the charity ball ended, the public and local tourists spontaneously came to commemorate His Highness. They said that the abolition of serfdom was achieved by His Highness at the cost of his life, and that it deserves to be remembered forever by future generations. They also heard that the tombstones of the hundreds of serfs over there were personally inscribed by His Highness, and they are all gathered there to watch and mourn."

She took the initiative on behalf of the prince and instructed, "Have the kitchen prepare several buckets of ginger soup and take them over, and also prepare some stoves."

His Highness the Prince said, "Do as I say, word for word."

"As ordered."

The tent became their own private world again, but she should go to the nearby mountaintop to sing songs. The people of Winter Kingdom needed her songs to fall asleep, and the dark creatures frozen underground needed her songs to lull them to sleep.

The chanting ended just before dawn.

Just as I was about to head back to my dorm to rest, exhausted, I saw that His Highness's tent was still lit up. Strangely enough, the tent door was open, and the cold wind was blowing in snowflakes.

She questioned the captain of the guards at the door, "Why aren't you closing the door? His Highness is sick. Can you take responsibility?" The captain of the guards replied aggrievedly, "His Highness won't allow it to be closed."

She went in to ask why, and the prince, who was sitting at his desk wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, said with a smile, "Have you forgotten? You said earlier that you didn't want to close the door and that you wanted me to calm down."

She was both amused and exasperated, calling it "childish," but then asked with concern, "Are you cold?"

His Highness shook his head and replied, "You endured the torment of the cold wind and blizzard on the mountaintop, and I just wanted to accompany you to feel the temperature of this wind and snow."

She was deeply moved, but her words carried a different cruel tone. "Your Highness, both of us need to play our roles well in life, fulfill our duties, and do our jobs properly. You can treat me as a pawn, needing me only when needed and discarding me when not, and I won't complain. But you want too much, and I can never satisfy you. I am a person judged by the gods, someone like me..."

She didn't say the last sentence, but it echoed in her heart—

I, burdened with guilt, am unworthy of your sincere love.

Chapter 193 Sunflower

After she left that night, His Highness the Prince may have stayed up all night without rest, or he may have caught a cold. In any case, the curse struck again the next day, and it was more severe than before. He was bedridden for almost the entire day, in a semi-conscious state, with a high fever and making incoherent sounds from time to time.

[Puppet] Upon learning this, Sandonne hurriedly dropped his unfinished experiment and rushed into the Prince's tent. His work clothes, stained with oil, were still on him. He anxiously said:

“Columbia, His Highness’s condition is very bad. We must go back to Her Majesty the Queen for help. We can’t keep this a secret any longer. This time, His Highness may not be able to overcome it on his own. The curse was clearly suppressed, so why is it getting worse? What exactly did you talk about last night?”

She sat on the edge of the bed, then changed to a towel soaked in cold water and placed it on the prince's sweat-drenched forehead. Holding his hand, she remained remarkably calm. "To defy the curse of fate requires unwavering faith, an incredibly steadfast mind, and an extremely stable state of mind. Wait a little longer. His Highness is a very strong person. No matter what I say, he won't be sad, will he..."

[Puppet] Sandonne heard her tears and swallowed the words "How could you bear to hurt His Highness?" He sighed and said, "Columbia, you are the most powerful in the spiritual realm. Now chant, do you think His Highness can hear it? Why don't we try? Maybe we can awaken him. Do you remember how His Highness fought off the curse the last few times? He focused on reading and forgot all the pain. Anyway, we must find a way to keep him conscious."

She lowered her head and said, "I've tried them all."

Before Sandone arrived, she whispered the most vibrant songs in the prince's ear, hoping to influence his subconscious, but to little avail.

The only thing she was certain of was that the man before her was deeply in love and would not easily leave this world before she agreed to be with him.

His Highness the Prince was unconscious for three days and three nights. She and Sandoni stayed by his side in fear for three days and three nights, but thankfully he was safe and sound in the end.

She woke up in the middle of the night and hurriedly woke up Sandoni, and the two wept with joy.

His Highness sat up weakly, his face pale, and said, "You two chief executives have always been served by others, so you don't know how to serve others."